Greenwich residents who heat with Connecticut Natural Gas will see monthly bills drop by nearly $9 after state regulators rejected a proposed rate hike and ordered cuts instead.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) voted 3-0 on Wednesday, Sept. 16, to slash rates for Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (CNG) and Southern Connecticut Gas Company (SCG), both subsidiaries of Avangrid. CNG serves approximately 189,256 customers in central Connecticut and Greenwich, according to the company.

The decision flipped what the utilities had asked for. CNG had proposed a monthly increase of more than $6 in 2023, according to WTNH. Instead, customers will pay about $9 less per month. SCG, which serves the greater New Haven and Bridgeport areas, had sought more than $13 per month in increases. Its customers will see a $3 monthly decrease.

PURA found that both companies had been over-earning for years and were not entitled to higher rates.

The combined cuts total $37 million, or about 4.2% of the companies' current revenues, the CT Mirror reported. Regulators also determined that CNG and SCG must return $120 million in past overcollections to customers by Nov. 30, 2027.

Wednesday's vote was a do-over. A judge had tossed PURA's original 2024 decision after regulators admitted making procedural errors under former PURA Chair Marissa Gillett. Attorneys representing PURA conceded that Gillett had violated the law by appointing herself presiding officer over matters before the authority without a vote of her fellow commissioners, the CT Mirror reported. Gillett stepped down in October 2025.

On remand, PURA ordered even larger cuts than its first attempt. Commissioner Janice Beecher, one of three commissioners who supported the decision, said the ruling was no minor adjustment.

"The new findings are not tweaks, they reflect our judgement of the facts and issues of this case," Beecher said.

PURA Chairman Thomas Wiehl recused himself from both decisions because he had previously worked on CNG and SCG applications as an attorney for the state Office of Consumer Counsel. Vice Chair David Arconti, a former lobbyist for United Illuminating, also recused and did not participate in the Sept. 16 meeting.

Reaction

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong praised the outcome, saying his office reviewed the companies' filings and identified extensive unneeded costs. Tong said CNG had been over-collecting millions from Connecticut families before requesting even more.

Avangrid pushed back. Spokeswoman Angela Baccaro said in a statement that the decision does not meaningfully resolve concerns raised by the superior court and that the outcome leaves critical issues unresolved. Baccaro also said the revenue cuts would play a significant role in the companies' ability to invest in gas infrastructure.

Neither PURA nor Avangrid released a bill impact assessment on Wednesday. When the new rates take effect has not been announced.